Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa took a fantastic pole position for tomorrow’s Malaysian GP—his third this year, his 31st in MotoGP, and the 49th in his career.

After struggling in the wet on Friday, Dani was able to consistently improve his pace in today’s sunny and hot conditions, setting the third fastest lap time in FP3 and the fifth quickest in FP4 before besting Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso by 0.017” and 0.024”, respectively, in the last minute of an incredibly hard-fought qualifying session.

After ending FP3 in ninth place, Championship leader Marc Marquez found a good pace in FP4, securing the top spot. He also once again demonstrated his unbelievable bike control, saving a front-end slide in turn one, although he was subsequently unlucky in qualifying, crashing at turn 15 during his first flying lap, on which he had been setting the fastest lap as he entered the third sector.

He immediately returned to the garage, mounted his second bike, and recorded what at the moment was the third fastest time. He improved again on his last run, but not enough, and had to settle for the seventh spot on the grid despite having the pace and speed to run at the front.

Tomorrow’s race will begin at 3 p.m. local time.

Dani Pedrosa

Pole1'59.212

“I’m very happy with this pole, which is our third this year. It’s a nice feeling because I usually struggle in qualifying, but the track improved a lot with today’s sunny conditions, offering good grip. Both tyres worked very well in qualifying, so I was able to find the rhythm on my first flying lap and set a good time, and then I pushed harder and improved on my second run. I made a couple of little mistakes but it was enough for the pole, which is fantastic. I’m happy for the team, as this pole is for them. We’ll have to see what the conditions are like for the race as we’re still struggling in the wet, so we’re really hoping for the sun tomorrow.”

Marc Marquez

7th1'59.694

“We’re not at our best at the moment, but I think our race pace is better then our qualifying position. This morning we made a small mistake with the setup and lost the direction a little bit. Then we sorted things out and I felt really good on the bike again in FP4, but in qualifying I crashed on my first run, which completely changed our plans. I had to take my second bike but I didn’t feel perfect on it, so I did a lap that was good but not good enough. Anyway, we’re not happy with today but not completely disappointed either, as our pace isn’t bad. Tomorrow we’ll try and have a good race. It won’t be easy because here, every time you go on track the feeling is different, depending on temperature, if it rains or not, and so on, so we’ll see what it’s like tomorrow and do our best, like always.”

MotoGP 2017Saturday, October 28th 2017

Qualifying
Round 17
Malaysia Motorcycle Grand PrixMalaysia

Qualifying Results

Sunny

Humidity

47%

Track Temp

49°C

Air Temp

34°C

Pos.

Rider

Num

Nation

Team

Constructor

Time/Gap

1

Pedrosa Dani

26

SPA

Repsol Honda Team

Honda

1'59.212

2

Zarco Johann

5

FRA

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Yamaha

0.017

3

Dovizioso Andrea

04

ITA

Ducati Team

Ducati

0.024

4

Rossi Valentino

46

ITA

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Yamaha

0.286

5

Vinales Maverick

25

SPA

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

Yamaha

0.326

6

Lorenzo Jorge

99

SPA

Ducati Team

Ducati

0.410

7

Marquez Marc

93

SPA

Repsol Honda Team

Honda

0.482

8

Rins Alex

42

SPA

Team Suzuki Ecstar

Suzuki

0.780

9

Iannone Andrea

29

ITA

Team Suzuki Ecstar

Suzuki

0.907

10

Crutchlow Cal

35

GBR

Honda

0.969

11

Miller Jack

43

AUS

Marc VDS Racing Team

Honda

1.114

12

Espargaro Pol

44

SPA

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

KTM

1.558

13

Petrucci Danilo

9

ITA

Octo Pramac Racing

Ducati

2'00.351 Q1

14

Redding Scott

45

GBR

Octo Pramac Racing

Ducati

2'00.451 Q1

15

Bautista Alvaro

19

SPA

Pull&Bear Aspar Team

Ducati

2'00.469 Q1

16

Smith Bradley

38

GBR

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

KTM

2'00.718 Q1

17

Baz Loris

76

FRA

Reale Avintia Racing

Ducati

2'01.050 Q1

18

Lowes Sam

22

GBR

Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

Aprilia

2'01.207 Q1

19

Rabat Tito

53

SPA

Marc VDS Racing Team

Honda

2'01.228 Q1

20

Barbera Hector

8

SPA

Reale Avintia Racing

Ducati

2'01.413 Q1

21

Abraham Karel

17

CZE

Pull&Bear Aspar Team

Ducati

2'01.570 Q1

22

Van Der Mark Michael

60

NDL

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Yamaha

2'02.376 Q1

Gallery

Images are copyright but free for editorial use.

Location Information

Specifically built for speed and exciting racing, the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is one of the world’s best. The 2,300 acre complex cost around £50m to construct and was built in just 14 months, holding its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and setting the standard for race circuits… read more.

Location Information

Specifically built for speed and exciting racing, the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is one of the world’s best. The 2,300 acre complex cost around £50m to construct and was built in just 14 months, holding its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and setting the standard for race circuits… read more.